10951 Oooerrh...galvanized steel pipes for plumbing??

Our plumber has used galvanized steel piping for the final sections of the copper pipe runs to bathroom, kitchen etc. I understood that this material is prone to silting and internal corrosion (not to mention electrolytic corrosion where it's connected to copper) and, consequently, hasn't been used in English domestic applications for at least forty years! Before I confront the plumber over this, can anyone tell me whether it's common, or accepted, practice to use galvanised steel pipes in Italy. I find it hard to believe that it is, but it would really help if someone out there knows.

Category
Building/Renovation

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 12:19

Yes it is the norm to use galvanised pipes in Italy and mixing with copper with the resultant electrolytic corrosion. They even still use lead, but only for waste pipes but that is still getting into the eco system.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 12:26

I must disagree that it is the current norm (though sometimes plumbers do tend to want to use galvanised for exposed piping in boiler rooms etc - I think it is just that keeping copper looking tidy is very diffcult with the soft pipes).

I would enquire of your plumber why he has used it - and probably at this stage it wouldn't be difficult or time consuming for him to change it. If it was in my house I wouldn't be desperately distressed to live with galv, but on balance I'd prefer not to. I think the electrolytic problem is less than it used to be, (because most of the copper to galv fittings claim to be constructed in a way which keeps the metals separate).

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 09:48

Just to put your mind at rest, any major development in the UK will use galv pipework for the main backbone and copper for the final dhws / dcws section because it is perceived to look nicer, particularly if you have a decent plumber who can bend a pipe accurately. Charles is quite correct when he says that steel / copper unions these days take account of the corrosion problem. I suspect your plumber will not be too keen on changing the pipework foc as he will feel it fit for purpose. It really comes back to your reasons for wishing it replaced, if it is the issue of corrosion, then sleep easily, if it is also esthetics, asking him to change any exposed pipework may be an adequate compromise for you both.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 11:56

Here, they used the multistrata pipe for eveything inside the house. Just looking at the system, I do not appear to have any galvanised fittings, apart from where the mains supply enters the house. After that it is either copper, brass or the multistrata tubing.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 14:07

Thanks to all the good old Italy mag forum members with an eye for this level of detail! Now I must own up. Closer inspection reveals very high quality, synthetic (non ferrous) pipe runs to all but the final/in room galvanised pipes, chosen by plumber for threaded fittings that won't break when tightened. So, no issues of electrolytic corrosion between copper and steel. Central heating and solar panel pipes are copper throughout, because of the very high temperatures generated by the panels. Best of all, all the pipe work up to kitchens and bathrooms is 22mm (the scale of the house made it all look like 15mm to me), so we should have a fabulous flow to conjure with!
Umbrian red wine is probably an exceptionally well kept secret, but Vescovo 'Refosco' from Friuli seems a pretty change!
Here's to Italy and here's to good plumbers too!
Lupo